Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Haunted by a centuries-old tragedy, there’s no room in Arawn’s life for softness. Every action he takes is for the betterment of his race and the good of the realm. He leads his elite band of warriors the same way he lives his life: full on, without compromise, determined. Except for one sexy female who happens to be his subordinate.

Tenacious, passionate, tough-as-steel.

Ria relishes the duties Arawn assigns her as much as she respects the deadly combatants on her team. And she has a secret: her formidable boss is also her deepest fantasy. Years of working under his authority haven’t dulled the spark she feels, yet her passion is tempered by the hints of loss she gathers about him. His dark and sexy moodiness draws her, but he’s a hard man to approach as he keeps the world at emotional arm’s length.

Secrets laced in blood burn his battle-hardened soul.

When Ria is gravely injured in the line of duty, Arawn can no longer fight his own long-simmering feelings. But a secret, more heinous and ugly than anyone could imagine, prevents him from surrendering his heart. Despite his intentions, he and Ria forge a connection both fiery and unexpectedly tender. Yet every day brings them closer to shocking facts. Evil stirs in his blood, and hiding the truth from her will be the ultimate betrayal.

Excerpt:

Wake up.

He
always told her to wake up. The male voice was always light, almost teasing as
it cut into the sluggish images that chased across her mind, disturbing them in
a way that was surprising and wonderful. Wake
up. But in his deep voice there was also a need. Not urgent, but…something
different.

He
wanted her to wake up. To join him.
There was a tenderness in his voice that made no sense. Was she dreaming? This
man, her leader, wasn’t patient.

Her
thoughts were muddled, a jumble of questions and darkness. Certain voices
echoed in her head now and then. Voices of people who loved her. Nearby and
hushed. His voice, always, talking to her.

“Wake
up. Now.”

Wait.
This time, she heard it in her ears as well as her foggy brain. Ria forced
heavy eyes open.

Bright
lights. His huge body near her. Her left hand, impossibly warm…held in his?

He’s here. And
his head was lowered over their hands.

Soft
words whispered…what had he said?

What
was happening? Am I dead? Something
amazing and peaceful surrounded her inside and out, a feeling of belonging
and…and rightness. And it had to do with him.

Abruptly
his fingers tightened on hers, the trace of softness gone.

Powerless
to do anything but stare, she was transfixed by his dark hair and impossibly
wide shoulders. So she caught every nuance in his eyes when he lifted his head
and started to push up from his chair.

She
caught the resigned look of tenderness that flickered when he first looked up.

She
caught the slice of absolute shock when he met her open eyes.

She
caught the genuine smile he gave her. Gods, he rarely smiled. She tried to
smile too, couldn’t help it. He looked like a warrior god created just for her.
If this were a dream, she wanted to live here forever. Stay.

He
was getting up.

No!
“St—” Her voice was barely a whisper, cracking through the dry tissues of her
throat. Did he even hear her?

“Don’t
try to talk yet.” He still held her hand in his much larger ones, concern and
wonder on his handsome face.

Arawn.

His
name burst like a firework in her mind. The Lash demons’ uncompromising
Commander. His voice was the one that had cajoled her and ordered her to wake
up.

She
didn’t know why he was here, or why she was here for that matter. All she knew
was this huge, lethal man was one hundred percent focused on her. He almost
always looked ready to tear something apart, rarely cracking a smile.

But
now, the grin he wore would have brought her to her knees, if she hadn’t
already been in a bed.

And
why, exactly, was she in bed? She glanced around, taking in the pale green
walls. This wasn’t her room. She didn’t have a painting of the black sand beach
of Tarsa on her wall. “Where am I?” Her voice rasped over the words.

“Already
ignoring that I told you not to talk.” But his eyes twinkled. “You’re in the
medical wing. Gods, it’s good to see you in the realm of the living.” He pulled
out his phone and dialed. “Ashina. Get in here. She’s awake.”

Ashina…Ria
knew that name. The healer. “What do you mean, the realm of the living?”

“You
decided to take a month off.” He spoke wryly, but that grin remained in place. “And
you didn’t request permission.”

Top 10 reasons why Paranormal worlds are better than Earth…

Hi everyone, and thank you to Gothic Moms for having me as a
guest today! I write adult paranormal romance and, not surprisingly, this is
also my fave sub-genre to read. I LOVE getting lost in the characters and
worlds that other authors create.

I have a secret – sometimes I get lost in my own paranormal
realms as well. It’s hard not to, when I created them. Every two-headed animal
and every environmental disaster sprang from my mind, as well as every hot
alpha warrior. I filled my realms with
good demons and very bad ones, along with fairies, nymphs, elves, witches, and
lots of magic. This is SO MUCH FUN!

Another secret – when I was writing my first novel, Wicked
Wind, I needed to send my characters on a journey and briefly debated sending
them to South America. Yep, that lasted about a day, and then I decided 1) I
didn’t want to get bogged down in research (I’ve never been there) and 2) I
didn’t want anyone calling me out on incorrect terrain and climate and 3) if I
made up my own world, I would have zero limits! And so…the immortal realms of
Torth and Evena came into existence.

Sometimes reading is a necessary escape, sometimes it’s a
way to pass a lazy afternoon, but I’d happily jump into a paranormal world any
day. Here are my Top 10 reasons why, with details courtesy of the Solsti
Prophecy series:

10. Supernatural hotties that live for centuries and can
fight off enemies in any possible way (swords, spells, firearms, jiu jitsu, you
name it).

9. An endless parade of characters with unusual kick-ass
powers.

8. No financial worries. These guys live so long, they have
accumulated LOTS of “old money!”

7. Traveling by portal is always on time, unlike airlines…
though you might get queasy. Best to travel with a hot warrior demon to hold
onto.

6. The wood nymph colony of Rivkin. What? You haven’t heard
of it? Best vacation spot ever. Gorgeous tree homes, good food, and the nymphs
(male and female) can’t get enough sex. Nymphy entertainment is always on tap!

5. No housework (unless you want to cook – one of my
characters is a breakfast expert). There are dust elves, laundry elves and
dishwashing elves to take care of all the hum-drum stuff.

4. No need for nanny-cams or wishing you could be a fly on
the wall at your kids’ school – you can observe through a scrying bowl. Works
best if you can find a hot Deserati demon to work the spell for you.

3. Once a mate claims you, not only will you enjoy every
second of it, but he will know exactly what you want and need. All the time, because….

2. The mate bond includes a mental connection that will clue
him in when you’re mad about something. Not only will he show up with presents,
but it will lead to much hotter make-up sex!

1. Problem? Any problem you might have? There’s a spell for
that!

About Sharon

Sharon Kay writes award-winning fiction and can never get enough reading time. She loves paranormal romance, with romantic suspense following close on its heels. She loves winter and black coffee, and is endlessly inspired to write kick-ass heroines and the men strong enough to capture their hearts.

Sharon lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son, and didn’t expect to write one book, let alone a series. But WICKED WIND and the Solsti series formed in her head one weekend and refused to stay quiet until she put pen to paper. Her characters tend to keep her up at night, as they banter, fall in love, and slay endless varieties of power-hungry demons.

Sign up for Sharon’s newsletter to keep up with her demons, see early cover reveals and be entered in periodic giveaways.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

"To get ready for the release of my next novel, On Wicked Ground, next week, I have put all the Solsti series books on sale for 99 cents each, including the companion novella (Kissed By A Demon Spy), which has never been sale!" - Sharon Kay

Wicked Wind

Solsti Prophecy Book 1

Published July 23, 2013 by Smashwords

Synopsis -

SHE GREW UP THINKING SHE WAS HUMAN

Born with the ability to command the wind, Nicole Bonham spends her life hiding her gift. Deciding to take control of her power, she dispenses her own brand of vigilante justice in Chicago’s worst neighborhoods. Stealth and surprise are always on her side.

UNTIL A CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A WARRIOR DEMON

Lash demon Gunnar prowls Earth and several supernatural realms to help maintain peace among the immortal species. His chance encounter with Nicole creates a hurricane of sparks between them, and he can’t let her out of his sight until he discovers her true identity. In his two hundred years, he has never seen a creature like her.

PLUNGES THEM BOTH INTO A FIGHT FOR HER LIFE

Nicole and Gunnar race to discover who - or what - is stabbing the city's most destitute residents and stealing their blood. The fire that forged their bond explodes into white-hot passion, weaving their souls together on an unexpected level. Haunted by the past, Gunnar's fiercely protective instincts battle with her need to defeat the creatures she was born to fight. As they track the mastermind behind the attacks, will Nicole’s unique talent unwittingly send her straight into his lair? (Goodreads)

Making daggers out of raindrops is only the tip of the iceberg for Brooke Bonham. As one of four women who can control the elements, her ability to manipulate water packs a deluge of potential. Eager to learn more, she’s frustrated at the precautions she must take to avoid the wrong kind of attention on Earth.

Kai's duties as a Lash demon have kept him busy on Earth for nearly two hundred years. Fighting? He was born to do it. Females? They're drawn to him. And Earth? The perfect place for him to avoid supernatural bounty hunters.

Though the two of them mix like oil and water, Kai senses that beneath Brooke’s frosty exterior hides a vortex of simmering passion. He’s determined to thaw his ice princess.

Forced to work together in the immortal realm, they track a rogue Lash demon at the helm of a widespread kidnapping operation. All too soon, Kai’s dark past catches up to them. Time runs out as a second enemy, bent on revenge, vows to stop at nothing short of Brooke’s enslavement and Kai’s death. As they and their foes stalk each other in a demonic game of cat-and-mouse, will her evolving skills and their fledgling bond be enough to save them? (Goodreads)

Gin Bonham lives with a dark secret. Born with an ability she never wanted, she builds her life around science and logic, running from the terror she is capable of causing. When sexy stranger Mathias spots her on a dance floor and cuts in, he leads Gin in a sensual rhythm that continues long after the music stops. But Mathias hides the fact that he knows exactly what she can do: in the deepest recesses of her mind lurks the power to manipulate fire. Destiny is coming for her and it doesn’t care if she’s ready or not.

Mathias possesses tracking and espionage skills so extraordinary that his fellow Lash demons call him The Hunter. Pursue and interrogate. He never fails. When he is tasked with coaxing Gin to work with the Lash demons against a common enemy, he relishes the challenge. But meeting her awakens a new, primal drive that pulls him toward her even as his tactics break her heart.

Failing to win Gin’s cooperation is not an option. But she is determined to flee, putting thousands of miles between her and any other supernatural creatures, including Mathias. Can she cool the charred embers of her emotions enough to forgive Mathias and embrace what she was meant to become? Or will her ability explode into something more than she can control? (Goodreads)

Kidnapped as a teen and forced into a life of sexual slavery, Garnet vowed long ago to do whatever she could to spare others her fate. When karma comes full circle with an offer of freedom for her and her young son, she jumps at the chance.

Masquerading as a village innkeeper, Aden keeps his espionage work secret from the gentle pixies he lives among. Using his skills to prevent a group of vicious demons from attacking the innocent, his world is draped in mist, shadow, and danger.

Steeped in shame, Garnet is loath to share her past with Aden. But Aden senses a sweet, loyal strength in her that no amount of horror can erase. His dangerous work is the opposite of the stability Garnet craves. Yet Aden’s patience and strength make him the hero she never had. When the enemy targets them, Garnet and Aden realize that honesty is the truest form of courage.

Sharon Kay writes award-winning fiction and can never get enough reading time. She loves paranormal romance, with romantic suspense following close on its heels. She loves winter and black coffee, and is endlessly inspired to write kick-ass heroines and the men strong enough to capture their hearts.

Sharon lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son, and didn’t expect to write one book, let alone a series. But WICKED WIND and the Solsti series formed in her head one weekend and refused to stay quiet until she put pen to paper. Her characters tend to keep her up at night, as they banter, fall in love, and slay endless varieties of power-hungry demons.

Sign up for Sharon’s newsletter to keep up with her
demons, see early cover reveals and be entered in periodic giveaways at www.sharonkaynovels.comTsu.co/sharonkaynovels

She stared at him.
The warm night air stuck to her skin, pressing in on her, making it hard to
breathe. All their lives, she and her sisters had kept their gifts to
themselves, feeling like they were freaks of nature. Were there others like
them in the world? Could she trust Gunnar? She had met him barely an hour ago.
He could be a lunatic. Regret and shame slammed into her. Why did I act like that in the club? Had he put some kind of spell
on her? She certainly didn’t make a habit of public make-out sessions. She
swallowed hard. “What are you?”

“Ah-ah, ladies
first, Nicole. But I’ll give you a small hint.”

He lifted his
hand. A tiny orange light popped into the air, dancing in the center of his
upturned palm. The light grew bigger, until it was the size of an apple. It
glowed and bobbed slightly, then went out as quickly as it had appeared.

She didn’t even
care that her mouth was hanging open. “What was that?”

“Demonfire.”

“D-demon…fire?”

“It’s a useful
weapon.”

“For who?”

“Well, it’s
particularly effective on the lesser demons, but–”

“What are you
talking about?” she yelled. “You just made fire appear in your hand! And you’re
not hurt!”

“I created it. It
won’t hurt me.”

“Okaaay. That was
a very cool magic trick.” She edged backward.

He was at her side
in a flash. “Uh-uh.”

“Gunnar, you’re
scaring me.”

“I told you I
won’t hurt you. And from what I’ve seen, you’re not entirely defenseless.”

Completely
unnerved, Nicole’s legs shook. She felt like she had just fallen down the
rabbit hole, and there was no climbing back up. Ever. She didn’t know if it was
real or not, but Gunnar made fire appear in his hand. She instinctively knew
that if he wanted to, he could truly hurt her. The rip-her-to pieces kind of
hurt. She had already tried to fight him, with no success—now it was time for
flight.

Whirling, she ran
in the direction of the club. She managed to get all of ten feet from him when
he grabbed her around the waist and twisted them both in mid-air. They hit the
ground. He absorbed most of the impact himself, then rolled and pinned her
beneath him.

Seconds stretched
out as he studied her. He relaxed his hold on her a fraction, but she still
couldn’t move under his massive bulk. “Nicole,” he said softly. “There are many
things I want to do to you, but hurting you is not on the list.”

She sucked in a
breath at his bold statement. I don’t
want to die here, like this, with a fire-conjuring madman. Fighting hadn’t
worked. Flight hadn’t worked. She didn’t want to end up dead in the park, so
that left her with two options—distract him or start talking.

She gazed up at
him with wary eyes. He was so handsome. A lock of dark hair fell over his
forehead, and his lips looked way too kissable. Dangerous. She clenched her teeth and shoved the jumble of thoughts
from her mind, disgusted with herself. He had her trapped, pinned on the
ground, for heaven’s sake. She had to figure out a way to get away from him,
not closer to him, like her traitorous body wanted.